Bass drum pedal

ABSTRACT

A bass drum pedal assembly which includes a supporting framework, a striking arm assembly pivotally supported by the framework, and a foot pedal having a heel portion pivotally connected to the framework and toe portion connected to the striking arm assembly. Upright support stanchions are positioned on opposite sides of the pedal, and an arch support bar is connected at its ends to the upright support stanchions above the pedal. The arch support bar is moveable vertically along the upright support stanchions, and the stanchions are moveable laterally along the length of the supporting framework, so that the arch support bar can be repositioned as desired to support the arch of the foot of the drummer.

United States Patent Franklin 0. Cantrell Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales Attorney-Jones & Thomas ABSTRACT: A bass drum pedal assembly which includes a supporting framework, a striking arm assembly pivotally supported by the framework, and a foot pedal having a heel portion pivotally connected to the framework and toe portion connected to the striking arm assembly. Upright support stanchions are positioned on opposite sides of the pedal, and an arch support bar is connected at its ends to the upright support stanchions above the pedal. The arch support bar is moveable vertically along the upright support stanchons, and the stanchions are moveable laterally along the length of the supporting framework, so that the arch support bar can be repositioned as desired to support the arch of the foot of the drummer.

BASS DRUM PEDAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION During the operation of a bass drum foot pedal, the drummer must operate the pedal repeatedly for prolonged lengths of time, and his foot and leg `eventually become fatigued. lThe shin muscle and virtually all of the other muscles in the lower leg become fatigued, not only because of the virtually endless foot manipulation, but also because of the substantially constant foot position in which the foot is supported by the pedal. While the pedal position is usually chosen to suit the drummer, the shin muscle and the other muscles of the leg are usually flexed through a substantially constant range, and even though the chosen range may be suitable for a while, the leg will eventually become fatigued.

While it is common procedure for a drummer to frequently change his foot position with respect to the bass drum foot pedal to relieve tension and fatigue in the muscles of his leg, the foot pedal must remain at a substantially constant incline to function properly and the drummer is limited in the positions that his foot can attain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention comprises a bass drum foot pedal assembly which includes a fulcrum to support the arch of the drummers foot above the foot pedal and means for effectively changing theposition of the fulcrum and the effective attitude of the surface of the foot pedal, and results in the drummer being able to change the position in which his foot is supported to relieve fatigue and tension in his foot and leg. The fulcrum or arch support is positioned over the foot pedal and is adjustable along the length of the foot pedal and in a vertical direction above the foot pedal. The drummer rests the arch of his shoe on the arch support bar and manipulates the toe of the foot pedal with the toe of his shoe. The weight of the drummers leg tends to pivot his foot about the fulcrum and lift the toe of this foot away from the foot pedal so that his foot does not have to be lifted off the pedal to cause its return. When the drummer desires to change the position of his foot, he can raise or lower the arch support bar, or move the arch support bar closer to the toe or heel of the foot pedal. When the arch support bar has been repositioned, the shoe and foot of the drummer will be supported in a dif* ferent attitude, thus relieving the fatigue and strain in the leg and foot of the drummer.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a bass drum foot pedal assembly that is adjustable to change the effective configuration of the pedal.

Another object of this invention is to provide a convenient method for relieving the fatigue and tension in the leg of a bass drummer.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification when taken into conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. l is a perspective view ofthe foot pedal assembly.

FIG. 2 is a detailed illustration of one of the bolts used to connect the upright support stanchions to the horizontal support straps.

FIG. 3 is a detailed illustration of the connection between the arch support bar and one of the upright support stanchions.

DESCRIPTION OF THEFREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in more detail to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout several views, FIG. l shows bass drum foot pedal assembly l which comprises a support base 11 that includes a pair of spaced upright support beams 42 at one end and a pair of spaced support tabs 13 at its other end. A drum striking arm assembly 14 is pivotally connected between the upper ends of support beams l2, and the drum stick (not shown) is attached to the striking arm assembly. Foot pedal l5 is positioned above support base 1l and is pivotally connected at its heel portion 16 to spaced support tabs 13 and is connected at its toe portion 18 to drum striking arm assembly 14.

With this` arrangement, when the toe portion I8 of foot pedal 15 is urged in a downward direction, drum striking arm assembly 14 will pivot about the upper ends of spaced upright support beams 12, to cause the drum stick to engage a drum. Spring means (not shown) are provided for urging foot pedal l5 back in an upward direction to withdraw drum striking arm assembly 14.

Framework 20 extends about the sides of support base Il and includes L-shaped side support members or straps 2l and 22 which define elongated slots 23 and 24 therein. Support base ll is larger adjacent upright support beams l2 and tapers inwardly toward its spaced support tabs 13, and the side legs of support straps 21 and 22 extend generally rearwardly of the front of support base l1 and legs 25 and 26 are turned inwardly toward spaced support tabs 13. Support straps 2l and 22 are connected to support base l1 by means of bolts 28 extending through slots 23 and 24 and into the forward portion of support base ll and by means of pivot pin 29 which extends through the heel portion 16 of pedal 15, through spaced support tabs 13 of support base l1, and through dogs 30 of side portion straps 2l and 22.

Upright support members or stanchions 31 and 32 are connected at their lower ends to side support straps 2l and 22, respectively. Stanchions 3l and 32 define elongated slots 33 and 34, and a bolt 35 extends through the overlapping slots 33 and 23, while a bolt 36 extends through the overlapping slots 34 and 24. Bolts 35 and 36 are carriage bolts and each include head 38 rectangular shank portion 39 and threaded cylindrical shank portion 40. The flat sides of rectangular shank portion 39 of each bolt 35 and 36 engage the flat sides of the slots of side support straps 2l and 22 and upright support stanchions 31 and 32, to prevent these elements from pivoting with respect to each other.

Arch support bar of fulcrum 41 comprises rod 42 which is threaded at its ends and extends through slots 33 and 34 of upright support stanchions 31 and 32. Tube 44 surrounds rod 42 in the area between stanchions 3l and 32, and washers 45 are positioned about rod 42 on opposite sides of the stanchions 31 and 32. Wing nuts 46 are threaded onto the ends of rod 42 to lock the assembly to stanchions 3l and 32. The arch support bar 41 can be repositioned in an upward or downward direction with respect to stanchions 31 and 32 by loosening butterfly nuts 46.

OPERATION When bass drum foot pedal assembly l0 is operated, the drummer places the arch of his shoe (not shown) upon arch support bar 41 and slides his foot forward until the leading edge of the heel of his shoe engages the arch support bar. The toe of his shoe then should be resting upon the toe portion 18 of foot pedal 15 and the arch support bar functions as a fulcrum for the foot. When the drum is to be played or struck, the drummer flexes his ankle and foot to drive the toe of his shoe against the toe portion 18 of foot pedal 15, and foot pedal 15 pivots about pivot pin 29 at its heel portion 16. The downward movement of the toe portion 18 causes drum striking arm assembly I4 to pivot about the upper ends of spaced upright support beams l2, to drive the drum stick toward the drum surface. At the end of the stroke, the drummers foot is relaxed, and the weight of his leg normally causes his foot to pivot back around arch support bar 4l, so that the force against toe portion 18 of foot pedal 15 is relieved. The spring (not shown) causes the toe portion 18 to rise and the drum striking assembly 14 to withdraw from the surface of the drum.

After the drummer has used bass drum foot pedal assembly l for a time and hisleg muscles have become fatigued, he can reach down and loosen wing nuts 46 to change the height of arch support bar 4l or the effective fulcrum for his foot. The increased or decreased height of arch support bar 41 will cause his foot to be supported in a new attitude since the toe of his foot and shoe will remain substantially at the same level while his arch and heel will be raised or lowered. With the new position, the muscles in the drummers leg will then be elongated or contracted to some extent and the subsequent foot motions during the operation of the bass drum foot pedal assembly and the beating of the drum will result in the muscles operating through a different range of elongation. To the drummer, the result will be that his leg will not feel as tired in the new position, and he will be able to operate the foot pedal assembly more comfortable and for a longer length of time.

Since upright support stanchions 3l and 32 are joined to .side support straps 2l and 22 by the means of the overlapping slots of these elements, the side support stanchions 3l and 32 can be moved forwardly or rearwardly in lateral directions along the length of foot pedal lS'to place the toe of the shoe of the drummer further up or farther down toe portion 18 of the pedal. By moving his foot support forward, a longer movement and a smaller force is required by the toe ofthe foot for the same stroke of striking arm assembly 14. Conversely, by moving the foot support in a rearward direction, a shorter movement and more force is required by the toe of his foot. Thus, the forward and rearward movement of side support stanchions 31 and 32 and the resulting movement of arch support bar 4l also functions to change the foot leverage and other foot stroke characteristics of the drummer, and relief of fatigue and tension in the leg of the drummer can be encountered from such a change.

While the invention has been disclosed as utilizing support straps and support stanchions with elongated slots therein, it should be obvious that a series of apertures punched in these elements or sliding clamps surrounding these elements can also be utilized to achieve a similar result. Moreover, side support stanchions 31 and 32 together with arch support bar 41 can be manufactured as a unitary piece so as to eliminate the upper protruding ends of the side support stanchions, and the downwardly extending legs of the unitary piece can telescope for extension and contraction purposes to provide the adjustable feature desired. Moreover, it is within the scope of the invention to cause side-support stanchions 31 and 32 to pivot about their lower pins by using a bolt other than a carriage bolt 36. This feature would provide further adjustment characteristics to the assembly. Also, the nuts of carriage bolts 25 and 36 can be replaced with wing nuts to facilitate the lateral adjustment of the arch support bar.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a bass drum pedal assembly which is easy to operate and can be adjusted to relieve the fatigue and tension in the leg muscles of the drummer. Moreover, the adjustment features of the invention allow drummers with different foot sizes and characteristics to utilize the assembly.

While this invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

Iclaim:

l. ln combination with a bass drum foot pedal assembly, a pair of elongated side support members extending laterally along the length of and positioned on opposite sides of said foot pedal assembly, an upstanding support member connected at its lower end to each side support member and each being moveable along the length of its side support member, and an arch support bar supported by said upstanding support members and moveable along the length of said upstanding support members.

2. The invention of claim 1 and wherein said arch support bar extends between said upstanding support members.

3. The invention of claim l and wherein said side support members each define an elongated slot along its length, and wherein the upstanding support member of each side support member defines a slot along its length, and connecting means extend through aligned portions of the slots to connect together said side support members and said upstanding support members.

4. A bass drum pedal assembly comprising support means, a striking arm assembly moveably supported by said support means, a foot pedal having a heel portion and a toe portion, said heel portion pivotally connected to said support means and said toe portion connected to said striking arm assembly, and an arch support positioned above said foot pedal and moveable in both an upward direction and in a lateral direction generally along the length of said foot pedal.

5. The invention of claim 4 and further including a support frame connected to said support means and including a side strap positioned on each side of said support means and extending laterally along the length of said pedal, and an upstanding strap moveably connected at its lower end to each side strap and connected to said arch support. 

1. In combination with a bass drum foot pedal assembly, a pair of elongated side support members extending laterally along the length of and positioned on opposite sides of said foot pedal assembly, an upstanding support member connected at its lower end to each side support member and each being moveable along the length of its side support member, and an arch support bar supported by said upstanding support members and moveable along the length of said upstanding support members.
 2. The invention of claim 1 and wherein said arch support bar extends between said upstanding support members.
 3. The invention of claim 1 and wherein said side support members each define an elongated slot along its length, and wherein the upstanding support member of each side support member defines a slot along its length, and connecting means extend through aligned portions of the slots to connect together said side support members and said upstanding support members.
 4. A bass drum pedal assembly comprising support means, a striking arm assembly moveably supported by said support means, a foot pedal having a heel portion and a toe portion, said heel portion pivotally connected to said support means and said toe portion connected to said striking arm assembly, and an arch support positioned above said foot pedal and moveable in both an upward direction and in a lateral direction generally along the length of said foot pedal.
 5. The invention of claim 4 and further including a support frame connected to said support means and including a side strap positioned on each side of said support means and extending laterally along the length of said pedal, and an upstanding strap moveably connected at its lower end to each side strap and connected to said arch support. 